Several churches in my area use this technique to grow beyond the limits of a constrained site or to reach out to other areas of a large city. Some churches join with a larger church for financial reasons, or to gain the resources of the larger church. The smaller site still has a local pastoral staff and a teaching pastor who delivers messages on Sundays. I've also read about a number of churches across the country (mostly non-denominational, it seems) that are rapidly expanding through the use of video venues. The senior pastor's message is either taped and played back or live simulcast from the original church location as part of an otherwise "live" service at the video venue. While I'm not entirely comfortable with it, no scriptural arguments against it come to mind. What are your thoughts?
Ra McLaughlin is Vice President of Finance and Administration at Third Millennium Ministries.